CHAPTER 4 Fluke Victory
Jacques' unexpected leave-taking came as a bitter disappointment to Bradand Dan who had hoped to learn more about the boy.
"We don't know where he went or why," Fred explained to the Cubs as theyreread the farewell message. "Dad and I carried a basket of trash down tothe beach, leaving Jacques here. When we came back, he was gone."
"That was only a few minutes ago," Mr. Hatfield added. "Dan, you and Braddidn't see the boy anywhere on the beach?"
Dan replied that they had observed no one.
"Dad and I weren't away from the Cave ten minutes," Fred furtherexplained. "I can't understand what got into Jacques. He seemed cheerfulearlier this morning."
"Maybe he was afraid we'd ask too many questions," Brad commented, hisgaze roving slowly about the room. "Say, isn't there something differentabout this place?"
"Different?" Mr. Hatfield echoed. "A chair has been upset and another oneshoved against the wall. Come to think of it, both those chairs were inplace when Fred and I carried out the trash!"
"Maybe someone came here while you were away and forced Jacques toleave!" Dan exclaimed.
"The boy seemed well enough satisfied this morning," Mr. Hatfield said,folding and buttoning the note into his jacket pocket. "That's what makesit seem strange that he'd leave without explaining. Suppose we lookaround down on the beach."
Eager to search for clues, the boys clattered down the stairway ahead ofthe Cub leader.
At the foot of the steps they noticed several freshly made footsteps inthe sand. Scattered among the imprints left by a small shoe were those ofa man's heavy-soled footgear.
"Dan, your theory about someone forcing Jacques to leave may be correct!"Mr. Hatfield exclaimed. "The boy may have gone willingly enough. But thatupset chair makes me wonder."
Now rather excited by their discoveries, the Cubs followed the footprinttrail for twenty yards along the beach.
Now and then, a small circular mark appeared near the shoe prints. To theobserving Cubs this indicated that a stick or similar round object hadbeen carried by Jacques' companion.
"And see here!" Midge exclaimed, staring at a confusion of prints in thesand. "Doesn't this look as if a scuffle took place, Mr. Hatfield?"
"It does," agreed the Cub leader, praising Midge for his observation."Either Jacques stumbled or was given a hard shove. One can see plainlywhere he fell down."
The trail of footprints led the Cubs on to a paved road paralleling theriver front. There it abruptly ended.
"Well, we've lost them," Mr. Hatfield said, gazing up and down thedeserted highway.
"And now we'll never know who Jacques was or where he came from," Dansaid. "About all he told us was that he's a Cub."
"Even that seems odd," Mr. Hatfield commented. "I've checked, and Jacquesnever was a member of any Webster City Den. I only hope that whoever tookthe boy away treats him right. Those bruises the doctor mentioned, rathertrouble me."
Failure to learn what had become of Jacques disturbed not only Mr.Hatfield but all of the Cubs. During the next three days, the topic was amajor one discussed at the Cave.
The Cub leader reported Jacques' disappearance to police, but wasinformed that no boy of his description had been reported missing.
At first, the Cubs spent many hours trying to decipher the coded messagewhich Dan and Brad had removed from Jacques' clothing.
Failing to figure it out or to hear more of the boy, the matter began tofade into the background. Only Dan remained determined to work out thecode.
Meanwhile, the Cubs turned their attention to an important swimming meetwhich had been scheduled with the boys of Den 1.
In a meet held the month before, the rival Den had captured top honors bya score of 20 to 16. Defeat rankled in the hearts of the Den 2 Cubs whowere determined to make a better showing in the second contest.
A total of three meets had been scheduled for the season. An engravedsilver loving cup would be awarded to the Den which won two of thecontests.
"I'm afraid Ross Langdon will win the Saturday meet too," Dan remarkedglumly one afternoon as he practiced with the other Cubs at the "Y" pool."That guy swims as if he's jet propelled!"
Although Den 1 boasted several fine swimmers, 11-year-old Ross was by farthe greatest threat to the rival Cubs. Muscularly built, the boy had theenergy of a youngster of fifteen. His crawl stroke lacked form, but bysheer strength he managed to win every race he entered.
"You swim as well as Ross does," Brad told Dan loyally. "Your form isbetter."
"Maybe," Dan admitted, "but I lack his endurance. I hold out fairly wellin the 25-yard free style, but in the 50, I began to lose my wind. Andyou know we've got to capture both events to nose out Den 1 in the finaltally."
"Sure, I know," Brad acknowledged, easing his body snake-fashion down thepool wall into the chlorinated water. "Just get in and pitch, old boy.Remember, the Den is counting on you!"
"That's what makes me worried, Brad. I want to do my best. I practice andpractice, but where does it get me?"
Sam Hatfield emerged from the dressing room in time to hear Dan's finalremark.
"You just keep plugging and top speed will come, Dan," he saidcheerfully. "Stop worrying about Ross Langdon. One of these days his lackof form will catch up with him. Now dive into that pool and swim eightlengths."
"Eight?" Dan groaned.
"Eight," the Cub leader repeated firmly. "It's the only way you'll everbuild up your endurance. When the going gets hard--just keep going."
Inspired by this advice, Dan dived into the water, and with smoothstrokes slashed his way the first length of the pool.
After a turn at the wall, his breath became a little short and he sloweddown a little. By the end of the third length, his stroke lost some ofits hard drive. At five lengths, his steady six-beat leg thrash became atired wiggle. Finally at the end of the eighth length, Dan was holdingout by sheer will power.
"Keep it up!" Mr. Hatfield called encouragingly. "You're doing fine."
At that moment Ross Langdon sauntered into the pool. Large for his ageand a natural athlete, the boy's appearances at the "Y" were few and farbetween, for he disliked to practice. On this afternoon, however, he haddonned satin trunks, showered, and evidently intended to swim.
Observing Dan's now jerky stroke, he uttered a loud horse-laugh. Then toshow off, he plunged into the pool, and swam the length with a speedwhich tossed foam ahead of his thrashing arms.
Thoroughly discouraged by the display, Dan wheeled over to the side towatch.
"What's the use?" he muttered to Brad who slithered alongside in thewater. "I couldn't quite finish eight lengths and here Ross blazes in andtears up the pool!"
"That's all right, Dan," Brad encouraged him. "You won't see him doingmore than a few lengths before he caves in. You just keep plugging theway Mr. Hatfield said."
"But the meet is Saturday. And look at that guy travel! His form may notbe so hot, but how he can chop the water!"
Well aware that the Cubs of Den 2 were watching, Ross swam anotherlength, finishing off with a snappy turn at the wall.
Then he pulled himself from the pool, stretching out on the tile floor torelax.
"See, I told you!" Brad muttered. "As soon as the going gets hard, hequits."
"To win the 25-yard and the 50-yard dash, he won't need too muchreserve," Dan sighed. "Well, I'll sure do my best to win, but I've got adark brown feeling."
On Saturday, the day set for the swimming meet, enthusiasm had mounted tohigh pitch. By two o'clock, all the Cubs, their parents and many otherspectators had gathered at the "Y" to witness the contest.
Five events had been scheduled, fancy diving, the 25-yard free stylerace, the 50-yard swim, a 100-yard relay, and a back stroke event.
Points were to be awarded on the basis of five for first place, three forsecond, and one for third place. According to the rules, each team wasallowed to enter two contestants i
n an event.
Den 2 swung off to a good start with Brad taking top honors and MidgeHolloway coming in third. This lead of six to three brought enthusiasticcheers from the gallery.
The second event, the racing back crawl, proved discouraging to Den 2.Though Chips Davis swam an excellent race, he lost to one of the Den 1boys. Den 2, however, managed to snare both second and third places,giving them a total score of 10 to 8.
"From now on it will be nip and tuck," Brad said grimly as the 25-yardfree style was called. "So far Ross Langdon hasn't had a chance to swim."
At the crack of the gun, Dan and Ross hit the water together. From thatfirst moment of the race it was evident to the spectators that theremainder of the meet would resolve itself into a battle between the twoswimmers.
Though Dan exerted his best efforts, Ross won the event by an easysix-foot margin. Dan was awarded second place, while another swimmer fromDen 1 captured third position. The scoreboard proclaimed the discouragingtotals: Den 1--14. Den 2--13.
Only two events remained, the 50-yard free style and the 100-yard relay.However, Ross was entered in both events and the Cubs knew his flashyspeed could be counted upon to win for his den.
"That boy is in top form today--if you can say he has any form," Midgemuttered, slapping Dan encouragingly on the back. "Well, get in there andshow him!"
"Sure, sure," Dan laughed, but his words had a hollow ring.
As the Cubs of Den 2 expected, their rivals walked away with the relay bya score of 20 to 16.
"Fat chance we have of winning now," Dan said as the final event of themeet was called. "We'd have to make a complete sweep, and we'll be luckyto capture one place."
"It sure looks bad for Den 2," Brad agreed. "But get in there and fight,boy! Ross acts a bit winded. He may not hold out."
In the 50-yard free style, the Cubs were required to swim two lengths ofthe pool. Before the start of the race, an official reminded the boysthat they must remain in their lanes and touch the wall at the turn or bedisqualified.
At the crack of the gun Ross and Dan were off to a fast start, followedby the field of slower swimmers.
As Brad had observed, Ross seemed somewhat tired from his earlierperformances. His stroke looked ragged and jerky. Dan by contrast forgedsmoothly ahead, pressing him hard every inch of the way.
At the turn, the two rivals were racing almost even. Determined to gainthe lead, Ross lunged for the wall, his finger tips missing it by a scantmargin. So rapidly did he turn, that few noticed.
Dan, tucking into a tight ball, also made a fast turn, but touched thewall. His shove-off however, was weak. When his head came out of waterfor a gulp of air, he was disconcerted to see that Ross was a full bodylength ahead.
"Come on, Dan!" his teammates yelled encouragingly. "You can do it!"
Dan dug in, but his breath was coming hard. Despite his best efforts hecould not recapture the lead. In a moment, it seemed, the race was over.Ross had touched the finish wall a scant arm's length ahead, and wascongratulated as the winner.
For the members of Den 2 it was slight consolation that Mack had wonthird place, nosing out a Den 1 swimmer. The scoreboard proclaimed Den 1the victor by a total of 25 to 20.
"Congratulations, Ross," Dan said, offering his hand. "You swam a finerace!"
"Thanks," the other boy grinned. "You weren't so bad yourself. Pressed meplenty at first."
Other members of Den 1 had gathered in a little group. After talkingrather excitedly, they called Ross over. The other Cubs could not hearwhat was said, but they gathered that Ross himself was the topic ofconversation. Apparently, he disagreed with his teammates about somematter, for his voice rose in sharp protest.
Then the Cubs heard him say sullenly: "Okay, if you want to be saps, goahead! It makes me sick, after the way I worked to win for the team!"
Ross' teammates talked to their coach briefly. Then before the audienceor Den 2 swimmers could leave the pool, a whistle blasted for attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we regret that an error has been made in scoring,"an official announced. "It has been brought to notice that one of thecontestants, Ross Langdon, failed to touch the wall at the end of thefirst length."
A buzz of conversation greeted this announcement. Brad and Dan glancedquickly at each other, and then at Ross. The face of the latter was asblack as a summer rainstorm.
"Due to this infraction of the rules, Ross has been disqualified," theofficial continued. "Dan Carter wins first place."
A mighty cheer rocked the pool gallery. Even heavier applause broke outas new figures went up on the scoreboard:
Den 2--24 Den 1--21.
Brad and the other Den 2 teammates swarmed about Dan, clapping him on hisdripping shoulders.
"Dan, you did it!" Red Suell congratulated him. "Now the matches areeven! If we win the third meet, that silver cup is in the bag."
"IF is right," Dan laughed. "Don't forget, this victory was a fluke."
From Mr. Hatfield, the Cubs learned that only the good sportsmanship ofthe Den 1 teammates had been responsible for their success. Ross himselfhad made no mention of his failure to touch the wall, and his error hadgone unnoticed by officials.
"Two of Den 1 swimmers saw Ross miss the turn," the Cub leader revealed."They reasoned that honor means more than victory."
"A Cub Always is Square," Dan quoted thoughtfully.
"That's right," Mr. Hatfield agreed. "I'm proud of our boys for winning,but equally proud of the other team for reporting the incident."
The swimmers of Den 1 gathered around to congratulate Dan and histeammates. Ross, however, had slipped away to the dressing room without aword.
"He's a little sore," one of his teammates remarked. "But he'll get overit. The coach warned Ross plenty of times to be careful about that turn.He never paid much attention."
Feeling on top of the world, Dan showered and dressed. As he was gettinghis things from the locker, he bumped squarely into Ross.
Dan waited a moment, expecting the other boy to offer some word ofcongratulation. When Ross said nothing, he remarked:
"You had a tough break, fellow."
Ross gave a snort of disgust. "I'll say it was a tough break," he agreed."In a straight race, you couldn't win and we both know it!"
The remark annoyed Dan.
"Oh, I don't know," he drawled. "My stroke is improving every day. Inoticed you were pretty well winded at the finish."
"Bunk. I didn't even exert myself!"
"Anyway, now that the two teams are tied, it will make a good meet whenthe final contest is scheduled," Dan said, trying to ease out of adisagreeable conversation.
"Sure," Ross said, his eyes flashing. "Maybe you can dig up anothertechnical point and win the cup! You'll never earn it on merit!"
And with that challenge, he brushed past Dan and slouched out of thedressing room.